Atlantic Canadian culture inspires five new community TV programs - Bell Aliant Community One TV channel adds new programs to its roster

HALIFAX, Dec. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Bell Aliant has added five new shows to Community One, Atlantic Canada's community TV channel. Community One offers local hosts and producers an opportunity to develop locally-flavoured content, while giving them a platform across Atlantic Canada. The channel already runs nine unique shows featuring colourful perspectives from around the region with programming created to celebrate local culture and sport stories. 

"Customer response to our exclusive Community One programming has been enthusiastic," says Andre LeBlanc, Vice President of Residential Markets. "We are proud to support local hosts and producers and give them an opportunity to tell regional stories relevant to our audience here in Atlantic Canada."

Several Community One programs began as online properties like blogs and YouTube videos, and have developed their own channel, online and social media following that connects hosts and producers to the communities and the stories that inspire them. 

• At Home host and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia native Jordan Hipson got his start online as a blogger. "I've been something of a 'domestic arts' devotee my entire life. At Home grew from a blog to an online show to inspire beautiful living, food and homemaking," said Hipson, who began his business at just 16 years old. "Bell Aliant's Community One TV platform has enabled me to grow my audience and bring my ideas into homes in the far corners of Atlantic Canada." At Home tours homes across the region that feature exotic furnishings, brilliant facades, striking colour pallets and functional features viewers can apply in their own homes.
  
  
• On Studio Tour, New Brunswick filmmaker and host Matt Brown peels back the paint on the local art scene at galleries, centres, festivals and artists-in-studio. The show offers an in-depth exploration of the creative process and how artists from various disciplines approach their work. "There are so many stories behind a brush stroke, or a stitch, or a frame," said Brown. "The opportunity to develop my production craft while connecting local artists with art lovers across Atlantic Canada is possible because of our partnership with Bell Aliant's Community One program."
  
  
• New Brunswick filmmaker Jesse Anthony hosts On Board, a showcase program about board sport culture in Atlantic Canada's skateboarding, longboarding, surfing and snowboarding scenes. "There's so much board talent in our region," said Anthony. "I can use Bell Aliant's Community One platform to fuse my love of sport and film together and hopefully inspire people to learn about riders in their communities."
  
  
• Newfoundland and Labrador music scene buffs will love Club One New Releases, host Fabian James' new program profiling new CD releases from local musicians. "We drum to a unique beat here in Newfoundland," said James. "We pack a lot of face time with local music talent in our half-hour program. On Bell Aliant's Community One channel, viewers get backstage access to see how songs evolve from writing to the CD release." Each episode is filmed on location at Club One on George Street in St. John's and available exclusively On Demand.
  
  
• Premier cooking school, the Culinary Institute of Canada, at Holland College in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, has turned up the heat on Kitchen unCovered, a cooking show featuring chefs and students creating mouth-watering dishes with locally-sourced ingredients. "Our show takes viewers on a flavour rollercoaster with dishes like tasty crab cakes and zesty fennel slaw," said Chef Andrew Nicholson, show host and chef instructor at the Institute. "With the broadcasting opportunity of Bell Aliant's Community One channel, we're able to share the local trade secrets we teach here to bring island cuisine to life."

The entire Community One TV content library is now available on Video On Demand on FibreOP and Bell Aliant TV. All programming is also free for Bell Aliant TV customers on Channel 1 or online at bellaliant.net/communityone. The Community One calendar is available at promotions.bellaliant.net/TVschedule. Community One is committed to providing programming that is of interest to viewers in Atlantic Canada. Program ideas or requests for Community One to cover a local event can be submitted at [email protected].

Addition Information
Community One launched in June, 2011, with its original two-show line-up:  Atlantic Journal which covers festivals, events, music, sports, food, business, culture and the wonderful and unique people of the Atlantic Provinces, and Sessions, with Jimmie Inch, a program dedicated to top East Coast musicians and bands, live performances, interviews and news.

Last October, Bell Aliant launched seven new Community One shows, adding to the original line-up.

• The Game Code profiles the latest in the video game industry and Atlantic Canada's gaming community.
  
  
• In Conversation with host Roger Bill, presents in-depth, one-on-one conversations with local personalities.
  
  
• Trekk.it celebrates innovations in travel and visits unique destinations around the region.
  
  
• Stephanie Beaumont's popular Sea and be Scene magazine style show, showcases the best of East Coast culture.
  
  
• Startup Kitchen features business start-ups and successful entrepreneurs across Atlantic Canada.
  
  
• Simply Zen is a wellness and lifestyle program presenting ideas to improve physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing.
  
  
• Inside University Sports magazine show profiles teams, coaches, players and fans from Atlantic Canada's universities.

SOURCE: Bell Aliant Inc.

Sarah Dawson
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